36
Kathleen prepared dinner that night, Derek had told the other maids to go on a break that Kathleen would handle everything, even Marcella had come down for dinner. Kathleen promptly set the table and served dinner, she was exhausted and needed her sleep, she had been alone in the kitchen preparing meals that multiple maids do prepare, it took longer than usual. Derek regarded her with a hooded expression as he took his place on the table, she promptly served him his meal, she got to Nicole and hesitated, it hurts her but she had no choice, ignoring the smirk on Nicole's face, she served her and made to leave.
"Where are you going?" Derek's voice stopped her
"Er....to have some rest" his brow shot at her reply
"You're not done here and you're about to have some rest?"
"Do you need anything?" She almost snapped at him, she was drained and almost at her wit's end but she refused to let him see that, it would only make him seem like he has the upper hand, of cause, he does have the upper hand but she wasn't about to let him glory in that satisfaction.
"Stand close, I just mind need something sooner or later"
Kathleen's face fell, her feet hurt already and her stomach growled, Derek glanced at her, " there just might be some leftover for you when we are through, I'm being generous by giving you the leftover"
Kathleen had never felt so humiliated in her entire life, tears burned in her eyes, she stared at Derek, wondering if this was the same man that had loved her in bed and showed her so much tenderness and care, he seemed so cold.
"I need a glass of cold juice, this isn't cold" Nicole's chipped in staring at Kathleen, Kathleen didn't move from her position as she stared back at her, Nicole's voice eyes hard and Marcella stared at Kathleen, "didn't you hear her request?"
" I heard it she can go get it herself" Kathleen didn't think before snapping at her, her stomach churned, these ladies disgusts her unless Derek asked her to bring the juice, she'll remain right here
"She's carrying the future heir of the Deloux empire, watch how you speak to her" Kathleen's blood ran cold at Marcella's words, heir of Deloux? She felt like a hot knife was pierced into her heart.
Nicole glanced at Derek looking agitated, "why are you quiet? I only want a glance of cold juice for our baby".
"Our baby" echoed in Kathleen's head, she felt the hot knife on her chest grew hotter, her stomach churned, fresh tears welled in her eyes, Derek glanced at her, his gaze unreadable, "get her what she wants" he commanded.
Kathleen couldn't believe that Derek was ordering her to serve Nicole, how could he humiliate her in such a cruel way, her heart constricted, she glanced at Nicole who was giving her a victorious look, "you heard him" Nicole informed her, her tone hard, Kathleen glanced once more at Derek, tears spilled on her cheeks. She moved her aching legs and body to do his bidding.
Kathleen placed the glass in Nicole's hands, she was about to move away when Nicole suddenly let go, and before Kathleen knew it, cold drinks sip through her clothes, she gasp at its coldness, "you threw the drink away, you didn't want to serve me so opt to throw it away instead" Nicole cried
"That's a lie and you know it" Kathleen responded, she felt chilled.
"So you're calling me a liar" Nicole's hand snaked out to slap Kathleen but before it would land on Kathleen's cheek, Derek caught her hand mid-air, he turned to Kathleen, "clean up this mess" he ordered simply before dragging Nicole out.
Derek threw Nicole on the couch and she struggled with her balance, Derek walked towards her like a predator, his face flushed in anger, he leaned towards her, his gaze hard as flint, for the first time, Nicole felt a wave of fear but quickly composed herself, "what are you doing, didn't you see what she did?" Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears and Derek snarled at her.
"If you harm a strand of heir on Kathleen's head, I'll make sure you suffer thrice for the trouble, Kathleen is mine to deal with as I wish and you're not meant to interfere, if you try what you did next time, you'll wish for death after I'm through with you".
Nicole shivered at his cold tone, this side of Derek, she wouldn't dare to cross, this wasn't the mischievous playboy with a killer smile, this was formidable heir apparel of Deloux empire and prince of the Deloux royal family.
Without another word, Derek turned and walked away.
Kathleen just finished cleaning the spilled juice on the floor, she felt drenched from the one that poured on her, she needed to change, she was about going to her room when a movement caught her eyes, she turned just in time to see Marcella heading towards the terrace, her movements made Kathleen's eyes narrowed with suspicion, Marcella was walking as if she was avoiding being seen, what could she be up to? Kathleen quickly followed her, the Terrance lights have been turned off, so it was easier for Kathleen to simply blend in the shadows, Marcella was on call but Kathleen had no idea who she was speaking with, Kathleen could see that she was furious as she mentioned hospital, she was ordering that someone should be transferred from a hospital and Kathleen wondered who that could be. She was about to give up on eavesdropping and was about to leave when Marcella's next words stopped her in her track and had her blood running cold.
"Stefan, it's dangerous to call now, no one must know about our connection, I've told you to be Patience, she will be yours pretty soon". She ended the call and turned around, Kathleen quickly went deeper into the shadows, her heart pounding as Marcella walked past her.
Stefan? Was she speaking with Stefan? Why? What connection did she have with him? Did she have a hand with the incident that happened? Kathleen couldn't contain herself, she would have to get to the bottom of it.